Protecting-apron for cyclists.



Patented lune l2, I900.- W. GREEN.

PROTECTING APRON FOR CYCLISTS.

(Application filed Oct. 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES *FATENT @FFICE.

WILLIAM GREEN, OF GUILDFORD, ENGLAND.

PROTECTING-APR ON FOR CYCLISTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 651,660, dated June 12, 1900.

Application filed October 20, 1899. Serial No. 734,245. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM GREEN, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Grasmere, Wonersh, Guildford, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protecting Devices or Aprons for the Use of Cyclists and Others; and Idohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to anew or improved device or apron for the use of cyclists and others, designed to be worn in addition to the ordinary cyclists cape for the protection of lady and gentlemen riders from rain, mud, and the like in wet weather, themore particular objects of this invention being to provide a simple and efficient device of this naturefor the protection of the legs and knees that is not liable to get out of order and which is secured to the front of the machine in such a manner as not to restrict the movements of the riderin any way. It is further extremely light and occupies but little space when not in use, while it is quickly and easily secured in position when required and is particularly suitable for tourists, doctors, ministers,work men, policemen, and other cyclists who are compelled to ride in rainy weather.

In order that this invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the apron open and unattached to a machine. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a safety-bicycle, showing this improved apron applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of a safety-bicycle with the protecting device or apron in position, and Fig. 4 is a partial plan illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

The protecting device or apron a is preferably formed from a sheet of waterproof material and is furnished along its upper edge with a sufficient number of straps, hooks, or other attaching devices, such as b, by means of which its upper edge may be secured to the handle-bars of the machine. Toward its lower extremity a suitable hole or perforation 0 is formed designed to inclose the head of the machine just above the crown-plates d of the front fork f, while its lower separated extremities or flaps g are designed to pass un der the tube t, connecting the bottom bracket with the head of the machine, where they overlap and are secured together by buttons, straps, or other suitable fastening devices, such as h. At a convenient part of the apron a a suitable aperture 70 is formed, through which the lamp-bracket 70 passes, while just above the separated extremities or flaps g a stiffening-rib m of any suitable description is secured to the inner side of the apron and which is designed to bear against the head of the machine, so as to keep the sides of the apron sufficiently apart, as at p, and prevent them blowing against the knees of the rider when pedaling. In this manner and as will be "seen from the drawings the front and a part of the sides of the machine are inclosed in such a manner as to afford a very thorough protection to the knees and legs of the rider against wet or rain, while I wish it to be understood that 1 do not restrict myself to the exact shape of the device as shown in any of the views, the essential features being an upper edge secured to the handle-bars and a part a to cover the front of the machine, the

divided extremities or flaps designed to over-- lap and be secured beneath the tube connecting the bottom bracket with the head of the machine and the side pieces 01, Fig. 2, While the brake-operating lever may be either arranged inside or outside the apron, as required. I

In the modified form of apron shown in Fig. 4 the apron a is formed in such a manner as to allow of the top part 7' folding completely over the handle-bars, so as to inclose them. This addition to the apron would only be advisable where the Whole of the handlebars is in a horizontal plane or Where the extremities rise toward the rider, as in the event of the handle-bars dipping or the extremities falling toward the rider, sucha part or covering would only serve to collect the rain and discharge it over the legs andknees of the rider.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bicycle-apron provided with means for suspending it from the handle-bar and having flaps of unequal length at its lower part provided with fastening devices, the fastening devices of one flap being adapted to engage with the fastening devices on the other flap when one flap is bent under one of the. stays of the bicycle, substantially as set forth. 5

2. A bicycle-apron provided with means for suspending it from the handle-bar, a stilfen-v ing-rib extending transversely across its middle part, and flaps of unequal length at its lower part provided with fastening devices,

WILLIAM GREEN.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. SEASON, WM. WOODCOCK. 

